Team profile: Crestview
By RANDY DICKSON
Florida Freedom Newspapers
CRESTVIEW - It's not a long stretch to believe Crestview can rebound from a disappointing 3-6 season in 2007.
All the ingredients seem to be there for the Bulldogs to compete for a playoff spot in District 2-4A.
Crestview coach Matt Brunson welcomes back senior quarterback Jason Parker and a talented group of running backs who could lead the Bulldogs to the postseason.
"The main thing offensively is we have to get some confidence and stuff we can hang our hat on," Brunson said. "I think we can do that with Jason."
Parker completed 90-of-175 passes for 1,212 yards and eight touchdowns last year. He gained another 313 yards on the ground and scored two TDs.
He will be joined in the backfield by D.D. Johnson and Jordan Glover. Johnson led the Bulldogs in rushing in 2007 with 494 yards on 91 carries. He also scored four touchdowns. Glover is a dual threat out of the backfield running and catching the ball. Last year he had 278 yards rushing on 47 carries. He added 521 yards in receiving on 29 catches and tallied six touchdowns.
"Jordan catches the ball well," Brunson said, "and we hand it to him out of the backfield, I don't think he's ever been tackled for a loss."
Chris Briley, who gained 101 yards last year, and Jerry Siler will provide depth in the backfield.
"We have a good stable of running backs, and this should be one of our more experienced groups," Brunson said.
At receiver there is plenty of potential if an inexperienced group can step up. The Bulldogs are looking hard to find a go-to receiver to replace graduated Johnathon Peacock, who had 43 catches for 574 and four touchdowns in 2007.
Artis Coleman is the leading returning receiver with five receptions for 80 yards and two scores.
Chris Pickett will go both ways this year as he moves to receiver while holding down a corner on defense. Sophomore tight end Allen Caldwell will line up in close and split wide in the Crestview spread offense and could cause lot of headaches for defensive coaches across the area. Amond Robinson, Siler, Keyshawn Thomas and Taylor Paul could also see action at receiver.
"Artis Coleman caught a couple of balls for us last year, but this group is unproven," Brunson said. "The good thing is they are athletic."
Nick Brown and Josh Hamilton return as starters on the offensive line. Andrew Wirth sat out last year, but is back and has claimed a starting spot, along with Chase Boals and Darius Smith.
Brunson stressed the offensive line must come together early.
"This is a young group with just two returning starters," he said. "The main thing is we need these guys playing together."
Pickett, who is the leading returning tackler with 68 tackles and two sacks, returns at one corner. He'll be joined at corner by Robinson, who had 31 hits last year. Glover will start at safety.
Gabe Goodson and Ben Barber will play inside linebacker. Briley and J.T. Arnold are set to start on the outside. Goodson, a senior, has started since his sophomore year, and had 60 tackles as a junior.
Crestview should be solid on the defensive front. Mitch Kertis, Darius Robbins, Cody Swenbeck, Billy Grace and George Frye all saw significant playing time last year.
"We feel like the secondary should be the strength of our defense," Brunson said. "We've got three guys that can really run back there.
"We have a couple of returning guys at linebacker so we should be strong there. And with two juniors to anchor the middle of our defensive line, and two seniors at defensive end, we hope that's a plus for us."
